Spending Spree

The Giants are going into free agency spending like drunken sailors. They started by bringing back JPP on a one-year deal. I actually think this was a smart move as it is an incentive-laden contract and JPP clearly hadn’t lost a step last year. If the doctors can figure out a way for him to play without the heavy wrap on his hand, he could become a dominant force again and a bargain.

Then the Giants went bonkers, handing out massive contracts to Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, and Janoris Jenkins. Let’s put Jenkins aside for a minute and talk about Vernon and Harrison, probably the two best defensive free agents outside of Von Miller available. There is no question they will help, and they will help where the Giants really need it- on the front four. But, they are paying the two of them about $25-million a season for that help. That’s crazy money and shows you how desperate Jerry Reese is to keep his job.

And they also added Jenkins, possibly a better player than the guy he replaces, Amukamura, but not necessarily, and at another huge cost- $12 million per. Add up all the spending and the Giants have doled out over $200-million (over $100-million guaranteed) for four players. We will have to see how all the cap hits play out in terms of bonuses, etc., but they still have some pressing needs- Safety, WR2, Offensive Line, and linebacker. How much is left to cover those?

All the spending is ironic because the three new guys all came from the 2012 Draft class. The Giants failed miserably in the draft. David Wilson, their first pick, had to retire from football after 114 carries. Ruben Randle was enigmatic at best in his years as the second wide receiver. Jayron Hosely was a pretty bad cornerback. Adrien Robinson never saw the field, Brandon Mosely barely saw it, and Matt McCants never did either. Markus Kuhn, their final pick, is probably their best, starting 11 games on the defensive line and recording 1.5 sacks.

And that’s the real problem this team has, way too little talent being acquired through the draft. They have done a better job recently, but this spending spree can be traced directly to the disastrous 2012 draft. To me it is also indicative of a GM who knows he needs to turn things around now or lose his job. I can’t blame ownership for making Reese feel like his job is on the line, but it is also their job to rein him in. Hopefully, his spending spree works and makes the Giants better, but with all of the guaranteed money he has handed out the Giants could have problems down the line and headaches for their next GM.